Resilience and Vulnerability in the Midst of Socio-Political Violence in Northern Ireland: One Family’s Experience of a Paramilitary Style Assault.

This article focuses on the experience of one particular family living amid the sociopolitical violence in Northern Ireland to illustrate the impact of a particular traumatic event—a paramilitary assault due to mistaken identity. These attacks are often colloquially referred to as “punishment shootings”or “beatings.” The systemic effect on family relationships and the unfolding therapeutic process are emphasized. A number of emerging themes and issues that have wider applicability are discussed.